Cork had far too much firepower for Kerry in Páirc Uí Rinn last night, setting up a Munster MHC semi-final at the end of June with the winners of tonight’s game between Limerick and Tipperary. With just three players on view from last year’s defeat to Waterford — captain Patrick Collins, Shane O’Brien and Alan O’Callaghan — the management team of Denis Ring and Mark Landers had to be happy with their new-look side. However, Ring acknowledged tougher tests are to come.

“We have a serious task ahead of us now, Limerick or Tipp,” he said. “There is no back door there. We might have preferred a better draw. Limerick are hammering the daylights out of everybody. We would be away against Limerick and if it is Tipp we are at home. But at this point and time Limerick would appear to be very strong. The next game for us is winner takes all. We have just one match to get it right. Unfortunately, it is going to be the difference between hurling in August and not.

“We have put in a phenomenal effort and we are happy with the display tonight. But the next nine weeks are very serious for us. We have a lot of matches lined up and we will also go back to our gym programme.”

Cork led 1-14 to 0-3 at half-time with Eoghan Keniry netting eight minutes before the break. The Rebels took over in the second half with further majors from Keniry, sub Billy Dunne and Luke Meade (2). Inside forwards Keniry and Sean Hayes are impressive ball-winners and will prove a handful for any full-back line. Luke Meade and Dayne Lee were also highly influential in an attack that found it all too easy.

It would have to be said — even though it was one-way traffic on the scoreboard — the visitors were far better than their nine-point return. Goalkeeper Stephen Murphy was superb between the sticks, centre-forward Michael O’Leary is an excellent hurler and was the scorer of two superb points from play, while Jack Goulding — despite wearing No 14 — roamed all over the pitch catching the eye many times. The Kingdom will meet Clare in a couple of weeks in a play-off game.

Where – Pairc Uí Rinn at 6.15pm (prior to Cadbury Munster Under 21 Football final)

Referee – Tomás Walsh (Portláirge)

Extra time – (2 periods x 10 minutes only) to be played if sides finish level at the end of 60 minutes

Next Round – the winners will qualify for the Munster semi-final on June 25th or 26th where they will play the winners of the Limerick and Tipperary first round game. The losers will play the losers of Clare v Waterford on Wednesday April 23rd or 30th.

Only three of Cork’s starting fifteen were involved in the extra time defeat to Waterford in last year’s Munster Championship: Shane O’Brien, Alan O’Callaghan and captain Patrick Collins, who is in his third year as a Cork Minor. All of the starting fifteen are in their final year at the minor grade. Cian Walsh, Seán Bourke, Eddie Gunning, Dayne Lee, Mark Dolan, Daniel Meaney, Seán Hayes and Eoghan Keniry were part of the 2013 U17 Rebel Óg Academy squad that won the Mallow Inter-County tournament. Luke Meade, Tomás O’Connor, Darren Browne and Seán O’Donoghue were also involved in that squad but were club-tied for the tournament.

The game is a first outing for the current management team, headed up by manager Denis Ring (Fermoy) and coach Mark Landers (Killeagh), along with selectors John Dwyer (Ballincollig), John Mortell (Ballyhea) and Liam Martin (Glen Rovers).

Defeated Clare by 3-15 to 2-14 in the first round before losing to Waterford in the semi-final by 3-19 to 1-20.

Did not participate but won All Ireland Minor B final.In 2012 lost to Tipperary and Cork.

Number of Munster Minor Hurling titles

32

0

Last Munster Minor Hurling Title

2008

N/A

Munster Minor Hurling Championship Record since 2000

Played – 42
Won – 26
Lost – 13
Drawn – 3

Played – 15
Won – 0
Lost – 15
Drawn – 0

Last meeting in the Munster Minor Hurling Championship

May 5th 2012 at Austin Stack Park Tralee – Cork 6-22 Kerry 1-4 – Anthony Spillane scored 3 goals in an easy victory for Cork in the first play-off game of the 2012 championship.

MUNSTER GAA HURLING MINOR CHAMPIONSHIP 2014

First Round

Wednesday April 9th

@ Páirc Uí Rinn Cork v Kerry @ 6:15pm

@ Cusack Park Ennis Clare v Waterford @ 6:30pm

Thursday April 10th

@ Gaelic Grounds Limerick Limerick v Tipperary @ 7pm

Play-offs

Dates and Venues to be confirmed depending on results

Wednesday April 23rd or 30th

Play-off 1: Loser of Cork v Kerry v Loser of Clare v Waterford

Wednesday April 30th or May 7th

Play-off 2: Loser of Limerick v Tipperary v Winner of Play-off 1

Semi-Finals

Wednesday June 25th or Thursday June 26th

Winners of Limerick v Tipperary v Winners of Cork v Kerry

Winners of Clare v Waterford v Winners of Play-off 2

Final

Sunday July 13th

Munster Minor Hurling Championship – Odds and Ends

Waterford have won at least 1 match in the Munster Minor Hurling Championship over the last 6 years. Cork and Limerick have the next best consecutive streak with at least 1 victory in each of the last 4 years. Tipperary have won a game in each of the last 3 years. While Clare did not secure a victory last year, they won a game in each of the previous 7 years. Tipperary have the best consecutive streak since 2000 winning a game in each of the ten years from 2000 to 2009 inclusive.

Limerick are the defending Munster Minor Hurling Champions following a 1-20 to 4-8 victory over Waterford at Semple Stadium in the 2013 final replay. `

Waterford secured their first All Ireland minor hurling title since 1948 when they defeated Galway in the final on September 8th 2013 by 1-21 to 0-16.

Kerry make a welcome return to the Munster championship this year. In 2012, when they last competed, they lost both their games – the first against Tipperary and the second against Cork. 2013 was a good year for them as they won the All Ireland Minor Hurling B championship defeating Meath by 1-19 to 3-9 in the final.

Cork Coach Mark Landers captained Cork to win the All-Ireland senior hurling title in 1999. Manager Denis Ring guided St. Colman’s College Fermoy to a number of Harty Cup titles. This is a first season in charge for Denis and his team, who were appointed at the end of last season.

Tipperary captain, Brian Hogan, is the son of former TIpperary Senior Hurling goalkeeper and manager Ken. Brian lined out in goal for the Tipperary Minor Hurlers in their two matches last year emulating his father Ken who was the Tipperary Minor Hurling goalkeeper in 1980 and 1981, winning Munster and All-Ireland Minor Hurling medals in 1980.

Clare appeared in 3 Munster minor hurling finals in a row from 2010 to 2012, winning in 2010 and 2011 against Waterford and losing to Tipperary in 2012. Several of their All Ireland senior winning squad of 2013 featured on those minor teams.

There is no name on the Munster Minor Hurling Cup. The cup itself was presented by T.W.A., Shannon Airport in 1946.

All Ireland Minor Hurling Championship

In the Minor Hurling All Ireland Roll of Honour, Tipperary are sedond in the charts with 19 titles behind Kilkenny’s 20 titles. Cork have won 18 titles, Limerick have 3 titles (1940, 1958, 1984) and Waterford joined them on 3 last year (1929, 1948, 2013) while Clare’s only title to date came in 1997.

Of the last 14 All-Ireland Minor Hurling Finals played, the Irish Press Cup has returned to Munster on 5 occasions – Cork (2001), Tipperary (2006, 2007 and 2012) and Waterford (2013). Of the other 9 titles since 1999, Galway have 5 and Kilkenny have captured 4.